Jinxed Demon

When an Ecnes is born, they go through a process known as dipping – a process of being dipped in a prepared sacred water, it's technique passed down from one family head to the next as the family's heirloom.

Every family gets that black sheep, or a labeled black sheep, or that one that is the trouble, or a defective one – whatever name the normal ones choose to give them.

In the Ecnes household, amongst the direct descendants, Elmah found himself in such description – a defective Ecnes.

When born as an Ecnes, there are a few things to look out for; rephrase, there is one thing to look out for: Color.

After your first cry at birth, what color was your first dipping?

Ecnes are born wise by nature, and by divine nature are born strong. Two colors are found amongst those with the Ecnes bloodline, Red and Yellow – these colors are shown when born. Those of the purest bloodlines – the direct descendants– have Red colors glow during their first dipping, and the side branches come yellow – lesser purity. To not have either, only you know where you come from.

Amongst the four birthed to the Ecnes family head, Elmah found himself 'siblinged' to lady Anya.

His sister was the pride of the family, gifted in wits and skills, with a burning passion for strength —a coated word for a genius maniac.

Then there was his brother, young lord Lant, another perfect Ecnes, not inferior to Lady Anya, who was in line to be the next royal attendant and sword, after Lord Halh.

Then there was little Tan, his younger brother, perfectly on his way to a proper Ecnes life.

And then He, the defect, the one whom only he knows where he came from, cause according to Duke Ecnes, he was not his son, no son of his was that defective, being without any glow, not even yellow. Zero bloodline. How was that even possible?

Well, this was his crime, and he was made to pay for it all his life. A life of isolation from his own family, the wrong son of Ecnes.

"Have there been any Ecnes without a trace of the bloodline? Well haven't you heard of the wrong son of Ecnes, the Jinxed demon?"

To think he even became a demon without doing anything was a shocker too.

The first dipping shows the color of bloodline, and the second happens at the ages of Five, where the bloodline can now be awakened.

"Why would the wrong son of Ecnes need a second dipping, his first was as plain as they come – literally."

And to boot came a prophecy from the mouth of the Ecnes household priestess

"The Ice that freezes the dynasty" as if his life wasn't messed up enough.

But oh well, looking at this figure –Ajab, confidently walking towards him, reminded him of that day two years ago, when this same figure – though younger, walked in with this same grandeur into his room, and smiled at him with the words: "Would you be my sword?"

Those words were like a rope pulling him out of everything that held him closed, but they still held him in other ropes.

Lant was who everyone thought would be taken, he was a Red, and was already in line, especially after his awakening. How did he get into the picture, he was the wrong son, he had no chance of awakening, he had no glow, and more so, how did he catch the Prince's eyes?

And of course Father wasn't going to allow that. Besides it made no sense, even if the choice lied with the royal family who ended there, it still made no sense, the trained and best candidate gets it, so why?.

That day, standing to the Prince who surprisedly came alone, Duke Ecnes raised his objection to it

"He's not worth being in your service your grace, he's barely an Ecnes, and the King already approved Lant"

The reply Ajab gave that day remained stuck in his head, like a mountain rooted to stay.

"I'm a child, so I'm not meant to understand these things, so it means I could always spoil things..." Then his eyes wore a ferocious glow that even sent his father aback "...but do not mistake me for one, my mother has her ways of dealing with my problems"

Then to him he said "I'll come for you later, till then find how you hold unto this as you become my sword" and with that he left Two daggers with him

Saying to his father "Have him through his dip". Then with his hands crossed behind him, he made his way out their mansion.

As if he wasn't odd enough. No Ecnes uses a dagger and none ever had, there had been no reason to. But his highness offered that to him, and holding those gifts in his hands he felt one with them, or had to feel one with them.

He knew no technique, none were wasted on him. But if one looked at it, it really might have been so, since none of their techniques involved the use of daggers

On his fifth birthday that same year, and because of the words the Prince left that night, he was to partake in his second dipping.

Nothing was to be expected, his father was sure the Prince would be disappointed and take in who he was meant to take in.

But entering the pool that day caused it to split in turmoil– what did anyone except from the wrong son, he even spoilt the pool now. But that was barely the case, the pool changed to a blue glow, a light never seen for generations now. The pools bubbled, like a lake of cooked waters, giving off sizzling sounds, which burnt into his eyes, changing their colors, from the thick charcoal they gave to a blue they now bore.

....

Seeing his Highness step into the designated area, his face was splatted with a glinting smile as he dashed at him without warning, heading straight for his neck. Seeing this attentant of his, finally taking a new turn in his style of fighting, the heart of Ajab skipped in excitement, as he slightly tilted his neck, dodging the attack by a hair, and aimmed for Elmah's rib cage, but what met his eyes, caused him to instantly retreat few steps backwards.

His heart was almost blown off in excitement as he discovered that that was an opening Elmah created to lure him in, if he had gotten any closer, his neck would have paid for it, or his own rib. He laughed inwardly and heartly, this one had even gotten more fierce. He seemed he had to take today's exercise more seriously, Elmah was obviously on his A- game.